Striving for Excellence: Dolefil Laboratory Services Bags Continued ISO/IEC 17025:2017

By Christine Anne J. Apura

In line with Dolefil’s mission to make natural and nutritious products, Dolefil Laboratory Services continue to reach great heights and recognition as a testing laboratory with the announcement of the laboratory’s continued accreditation based on PNS ISO/IEC 17025:2017 by Philippine Accreditation Bureau (PAB) in the fields of biological and chemical testing last November 28, 2023. The announcement was made after the first surveillance audit of Dolefil Laboratory with PAB last July 5-7, 2023. The laboratory’s granted ISO/IEC 17025:2017 Accreditation to a total of 114 testing parameters and 15 accredited signatories will continue until March 2027.

Dolefil Laboratory is ISO/IEC 17025:2017-accredited on 20 parameters in the field of biological testing and 94 parameters in the field of chemical testing, for different sample matrices such as food, beverages, soil, plant tissue, fertilizers, plastic films, environmental water, and wastewater. Dolefil Microbiology lab is currently composed of six Microbiology Analyst-signatories, while the Chemistry lab has nine signatories, who are licensed Chemists and Chemical Technicians. After its hiatus for six years, Dolefil lab garnered again the ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation last March 23, 2021.

General requirements of ISO/IEC 17025:2017 is the main standard used by testing and calibration laboratories for laboratory management system development and implementation. On another note, ISO/IEC 17025 is the standard for which most laboratories must hold accreditation to be deemed technically competent. With this recent achievement, Dolefil Laboratory keeps upholding its commitment to its Quality Policy to provide customers with professional high-quality service. This recognition of Dolefil’s internal lab also signifies operational benefits to Dolefil as an organization to ensure quality of Dole products by providing testing results to its customers all around the world, which are on a par with other international labs accredited with ISO/IEC 17025.

Aside from the recent ISO accreditation, Dolefil Laboratory Services is also a recognized laboratory for both biological and chemical testing, by Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) and Fertilizers and Pesticides Authority (FPA) since 2018. These continuing laboratory recognitions were proudly achieved by the lab despite challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, through the untiring efforts of all laboratory personnel, support of the top management, and the perseverance of both Micro- and Chemical Analysts to stay technically competent on their fields of expertise. Moving forward, Dolefil lab aims to retain these accreditation and recognition and to continue to strive for excellence to provide the best service to its internal customers, and become an effective support group as Dolefil fulfills its Dole Promise in the coming years. #